How Probiotics Can Help with Hair Loss

Hair loss is one of the most common, non-threatening medical conditions around the world. Here in the United States, men and women both suffer from this frustrating and embarrassing state of health. For men, Androgenetic Alopecia, or male pattern baldness, is responsible for more than 95% of hair loss. Two thirds of men will go through some level of hair loss by the time they turn 35. 1 Believe it or not, women make up 40% of those suffering from hair loss. One in four women will experience some form of hair loss including thinning. 2 Put simply: Hair loss, while not dangerous, can be emotionally overwhelming.

Although a cure has yet to be found, modern research is revealing how nature can reduce and stop hair loss. Probiotics, the gut-friendly bacteria found in fermented foods such as yogurt and kefir, may be just what you need in order to stop hair loss in its tracks.

Probiotics & Hair Health

Probiotics promote the growth and development of healthy and beneficial bacteria inside of your body. These bacteria live primarily in your gut. The fascinating thing is that 80% of your immune system, your body’s tactical defense system for foreign pathogens and invaders, is also located inside of your gut. Studies are only now discovering the links between probiotics and your immune system. In fact, several studies have demonstrated a direct correlation between the health of your gut flora and the condition of your immune system. 3, 4

Hair loss, while somewhat based on genetics, is largely influenced by your diet, lifestyle, and environment. Hair follicles that are subjected to malnutrition, inflammation, and environmental pollutants cannot sustain hair growth activity and, as a result, die off. Probiotics that are supplemented into the diet feature the unique ability to trigger a positive immune and metabolic reaction, enhancing the performance of both. As a result, your body is better equipped to fight off environmental pathogens, reduce and eliminate inflammation, and promote nutrient uptake. All three of these features will dramatically improve your hair health. 4

Probiotics Increase Hair Thickness

One of the first signs of hair loss is the thinning of what was once beautiful thick hair. Thinning hair marks the area that will become the primary area for total or near-total hair loss. Thick, strong hair is more than a mark of beauty; it’s also a sign of great health. As demonstrated in a study published in PLoS One, probiotic supplementation leads to the thickening of hair. 5

Probiotics Boost Hair Numbers

Thicker hair isn’t the only benefit that you’ll get from taking probiotics. Studies show that probiotics also have the power to increase the number of hairs that grow! A study conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology had scientists feeding probiotic-enriched yogurt to some mice while keeping another group on a normal diet. At the conclusion of the study, the mice who were fed the probiotic yogurt showed a dramatic increase in active hair follicles and overall body hair. 5

Probiotics Improve Overall Hair Growth

Maybe you’re one of the lucky few who are not experiencing hair loss but you want to improve the condition of your hair. Lucky for you, probiotics have been shown to enhance the overall health of your hair. The shine of your hair is directly linked to your diet. Studies show that probiotics have a positive effect on your blood pH levels, thereby resulting in a healthy shine. 5

If you currently suffer from dandruff, probiotics are an inexpensive and highly effective solution. A study published in the International Journal of Trichology showed that subjects supplementing with probiotics experienced an accelerated recovery rate of the inflamed skin and a dramatic reduction of symptoms. Subjects also had the added benefit of an improved immune system response and skin sensitivity. 6

Which Probiotic Is The Best?

The most commonly used probiotic in modern studies is lactobacillus. When choosing a probiotic supplement, make sure that is the primary strain. Other helpful strains include:

Depending on the severity of the thinning or overall hair loss, you may benefit from an oral supplement as well as a cream. We would recommend taking one to servings each day of probiotics and applying the probiotic cream directly to the scalp at least once each day. If your hair loss is not severe, a probiotic oral supplement will be sufficient.

Conclusion

Stop feeling embarrassed and distraught over your hair loss and start doing something about it. A probiotics supplement, like the one you’ll find here, is a safe and natural solution that has been scientifically proven to combat hair loss.